Have you given a family the gift of hope -
the gift of a life free from violence? 

Christmas may be upon us - but there is still time for you to make a difference.

For many, Christmas is a time to gather, celebrate, share a meal and exchange gifts. But with over 18 months of COVID-19 challenges, countless families are struggling - especially those experiencing extreme disadvantage and trauma. They are struggling to put food on the table and gifts under the tree.

Each year we work with over 20,000 people to help them to be safer and more supported. We are asking you to help us to continue to provide our life-changing services.

Please join with us in showing that our community spirit is still thriving, despite the hardships of the pandemic, by making a generous donation to support:

• Families who are struggling to obtain everyday essentials and are on the brink of homelessness.
• Women and children who are trapped by financial and other chronic pressures in dreadfully neglectful, abusive and violent relationships.
• People living with disability who are more isolated and vulnerable due to the consequences of the pandemic.

Stephanie’s Story

“Leaving was by far the hardest thing I ever did, but it's no way near as hard as staying. It was the best gift I could ever give my children, now they are free”.

With your vital help we can ensure that we continue to deliver life-saving and essential services to people like loving mum Stephanie* and her children, Caroline* and Luis*.

Stephanie was in a relationship with an extremely controlling and violent partner. She was terrified that leaving would endanger her children.

At the time Stephanie came into contact with Windermere she had been trying to gradually remove herself and her children, Caroline* and Luis* from a violent relationship that had been worsening over the past 15 years. 

“The children and I lived in an underground room with a lockable door at the back of our property for about eight months after I told him I wanted to leave. I bought what was needed on my credit card, but as my partner wouldn’t let me work I had no means to pay the card off. I was just trying to keep things calm, so we could get out alive.” she says.

Windermere case worker Dorothy worked with Stephanie and her children to increase their safety and provide them with a range of desperately needed supports.

Stephanie describes Dorothy as her guardian angel.

“We were so hungry, so poor, I felt like I had carried the kids out of a war zone, and Dorothy helped pull us out of that,” she says.

Today Stephanie and her children are safe and are busy slowly re-establishing their lives.

This Christmas, Stephanie is determined that she and her children will move on in their lives. “We won’t let this define us, we have our own lives to live,” she says.

*Details have been changed to protect privacy.

Donate Today to help keep vulnerable children safe